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Amherst police and fire chiefs, other town officials to serve up soup and salad at annual Survival Center Empty Bowls benefit March 10

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Mary Ann Huny of South Amherst works on a bowl at the Mudpie Potters in Leverett in this file photo. Bowls like these will be once again given away at the annual Empy Bowls fundraiser March 10 to benefit the Amherst Survival Center.
(Republican file photo)

AMHERST — Fire Chief Tim Nelson, Police Chief Scott Livingstone, Town Manager John P. Musante and high school principal Mark Jackson are just a handful of those “celebrities” who will be serving soup and salad at the sixth annual Empty Bowls Amherst Survival Center fund-raising dinner March 10.

The benefit will be held at The Pub, on East Pleasant Street, from 4 to 8 p.m. It is one of the three major fund-raisers for the center, said Sarah Barr, board president.

The event last year raised $28,000 from a combination of sponsorship support, ticket sales, proceeds from a raffle for three Josh Simpson bowls, and tips for celebrity waiters who donate them to the center, according to Lisa Queenin, who is on the planning committee.

In an email, she said they are hoping to surpass that amount this year.

Barr said that the numbers of those seeking the hot meals, food pantry and other services provided by the Survival Center are up about 25 percent from what they were last year.

“The need is great,” she said, adding that the event brings community members together. Barr said cited the willingness of Aaron Jolly, owner of The Pub, to open his doors, and businesses such as Stop & Shop that offer support for the event, allowing the proceeds from ticket sales to go to the center.

For diners who are seated at tables with people they don’t know, Barr said, “[I]t’s the chance to meet people you’ve never met. You learn about the town.” Diners can also take their meals to go.

Potters have made 500 bowls for the meal that diners can take home. Between 12 and 15 restaurants and the University of Massachusetts are donating the soup, salad and bread for the meal.